Practical Nursing
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- CERT Certificate | 45 Credits
Practical Nursing
About the Program
Practical Nursing Program | Application for Summer 2020 start is now open!
Questions please call 303.365.8300.
CCD's practical nursing certificate program will teach you to care for the physical needs of patients while promoting their health, healing and wellness.
You will learn how to provide basic patient care, administer medications and document medical charts. You'll also develop leadership skills that will prepare you to excel in your career. This one-year program offers in-classroom learning, hands-on practice inpatient simulation labs as well as 400 hours of clinical rotation in local health care agencies. CCD will provide you with a well-rounded, nursing education.
As a practical nurse (PN), you will have access to varying employment opportunities.
- In long-term care facilities, the PN is often the team leader providing care to multiple residents.
- In outpatient clinic settings, the PN works in collaboration with doctors in treating and educating patients.
- In-home healthcare settings, the autonomous PN provides in-home care to patients ranging in age from pediatric to geriatric.
- In hospitals, PNs provide routine care in many different departments with varying duties.
Application Requirements
To be accepted into the program, you must have completed the three required prerequisite classes, be CPR certified (Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association), have taken nurse aide training or have experience working as a CNA, MA, pharmacy technician, or phlebotomist.
Accreditation
The program is approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. The program is applying for national accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Pending national accreditation, practical nursing graduate's future educational options and career opportunities may be limited.
The program prepares you to take the NCLEX-PN national licensing examination and for employment in many healthcare settings.
Course & Program Fees
Some programs and/or courses may require fees in addition to the base tuition and fees. High-cost course fees are used to support the maintenance and development of the course labs and are embedded within your general tuition.
Financial Aid Eligibility
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Apply at CCD.edu/Scholarships.
Stop by the financial aid office on the first floor of the Confluence Building on the Auraria campus for help with the federal financial aid application. Walk-in hours are offered every Wednesday from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. in the Confluence Building, Room 118.
Job Outlook & Salary Information
What Can I Do with My Practical Nursing Certification?
The practical nurse can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, physicians' offices, and private homes.
The employment of licensed practical nurses is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028. LPNs will be needed in residential care facilities and in-home health environments to care for older patients.
Percentage-wise, Colorado practical nursing is projected to see very high growth: 31.4% over the 2014 to 2024 decade.
Learn more about this career path by visiting CCD's Career and Transfer Center.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
The median annual wage for Practical Nurses was $51,550 in 2018 and is projected to go up in the next 10 years.
The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.